dear white america

The #SayHerName political and social movement highlights the Black women who have been killed as a result of police brutality and anti-Black violence at large. While the movement was created to highlight the gender-specific ways in which Black women are disproportionately affected by fatal acts of racial injustice, the act of saying the names of victims has been employed to make space for all victims of racial injustice. This is commonly seen in the form of literally saying (shouting) names of those killed at the hands of the police in protests and in other demonstrations. The idea not only creates space for victims but also helps to personalize something that for some people (i.e., those outside of the Black community) can feel intangible.

This theme is present throughout Smith’s poem; they list Renisha, Chucky, Bo, Meech, Trayvon, Sean, and Jonylah. Later in the poem, we’re given the list Jordan, Emmet, Huey P., and Martin. Both lists highlight people—men and women—whose died from police violence and/or anti-Black violence. Smith’s thematic treatment of politics here gives readers specific and concrete examples of racial injustice and police brutality. By merely including their first names, Smith creates an increased feeling of intimacy and closeness, thus raising the stakes of their deaths.